Deadra K. Stanton, Mason City High School English Teacher, has been selected by the Iowa Department of Education as one of five finalists for the 2012 Iowa Teacher of the Year. The final selection will be announced after July 15.
Stanton has been a teacher of Speech, English, and Literature for over 36 years, while 33 of those years have been with the Mason City Schools. During her career she has coached the speech team, developed a Summer Musical Program, directed the High School Gifted and Talented Program and coached the debate team for a season. Stanton states, “I have taught every English course our school has to offer and I probably will teach more in the future. I did not come to teaching in a moment of blinding passion, or a lifelong obsessionóI did not play pretend teacher when I was a child. I believe teaching came to me.”
Along with being a teacher for the Mason City Schools, Stanton has been involved with various community organizations and has volunteered time with the Mason City Community Theatre, Mason City Youth Hockey, Mason City Wright on the Park, Steben’s Children’s Theatre, Francis Lauer Youth Shelter, Trinity Lutheran Church and KCMR Radio. She is a member of the Mason City Historical Society and Foundation and the Mankato State University Alumni Board.
Stanton’s educational recognitions include:
– Governor’s Scholar Recognition Program: Favorite Teacher Recognition,
– Outstanding Teaching Recognition: Tuffs University,
– Congressional Youth Leadership Council: Recognized as Educational Leader and Mentor;
– Mason City High School: Recognition for Outstanding Leadership and Student Motivation, and
– University of Iowa: Outstanding Educator, Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education.
Stanton shares, “I am proud to work with the most valuable asset of our worldóour youth. Thirty-six years ago I got a job; thirty-six years ago I found my profession and I can honestly say I am as proud to be a teacher today as I was the first day I walked into the classroom. That is my greatest contributionóover 5000 students later, I still love to teach, I still love to learn, and I am a teacher.”|
